Bug 1274265 (CVE-2015-7871) - CVE-2015-7871 ntp: crypto-NAK symmetric association authentication bypass vulnerability
Summary: CVE-2015-7871 ntp: crypto-NAK symmetric association authentication bypass vul...
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG
Alias: CVE-2015-7871
Product: Security Response
Classification: Other
Component: vulnerability
Version: unspecified
Hardware: All
OS: Linux
high
high
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Red Hat Product Security
QA Contact:
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On: 1274351 1274477 1274478 1274479 1274480
Blocks: 1260670
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2015-10-22 11:32 UTC by Martin Prpič
Modified: 2021-02-17 04:47 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

Fixed In Version: ntp 4.2.8p4
Doc Type: Bug Fix
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2015-10-23 06:26:06 UTC
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Martin Prpič 2015-10-22 11:32:58 UTC
The following flaw was found in ntpd:

An error handling logic error exists within ntpd that manifests due to improper error condition handling associated with certain crypto-NAK packets. An unauthenticated, off­-path attacker can force ntpd processes on targeted servers to peer with time sources of the attacker's choosing by transmitting symmetric active crypto­-NAK packets to ntpd. This attack bypasses the authentication typically required to establish a peer association and allows an attacker to make arbitrary changes to system time.

External References:

http://talosintel.com/reports/TALOS-2015-0069/
http://support.ntp.org/bin/view/Main/SecurityNotice#October_2015_NTP_Security_Vulner

Comment 1 Martin Prpič 2015-10-22 14:33:56 UTC
Created ntp tracking bugs for this issue:

Affects: fedora-all [bug 1274351]

Comment 5 Martin Prpič 2015-10-23 06:26:06 UTC
Statement:

This issue did not affect the versions of ntp as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6, and 7.

Comment 7 Martin Prpič 2015-10-23 09:18:07 UTC
The 4.2.6 version of NTP is not vulnerable because while the ephemeral association can be created, it's immediately removed in the following code by the unpeer() call:

       /*
         * If this is a crypto_NAK, the server cannot authenticate a
         * client packet. The server might have just changed keys. Clear
         * the association and restart the protocol.
         */
        if (is_authentic == AUTH_CRYPTO) {
                report_event(PEVNT_AUTH, peer, "crypto_NAK");
                peer->flash |= TEST5;           /* bad auth */
                peer->badauth++;
                if (peer->flags & FLAG_PREEMPT) {
                        unpeer(peer);
                        return;
                }

While the ephemeral association can be temporarily established, it does not allow for exploitation in any way.

Comment 8 Fedora Update System 2015-11-02 18:53:03 UTC
ntp-4.2.6p5-34.fc23 has been pushed to the Fedora 23 stable repository. If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.

Comment 9 Fedora Update System 2015-11-04 22:49:39 UTC
ntp-4.2.6p5-34.fc21 has been pushed to the Fedora 21 stable repository. If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.

Comment 10 Fedora Update System 2016-02-21 02:25:24 UTC
ntp-4.2.6p5-36.fc22 has been pushed to the Fedora 22 stable repository. If problems still persist, please make note of it in this bug report.


Note You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.